| It's just a fact of life for many people; they need to | | | | deals there on occasion, that's the exception, rather |
| replace their car and are on a tight budget. In that's the | | | | than the norm. |
| case for you, you'll need to find a cheap, used car for | | | | If you're on the Internet anyway, what about the |
| sale. In addition, you probably want a car that's safe, | | | | auction sites, such as eBay motors? Now you're |
| reliable, and comfortable. That can be a tall order; | | | | getting warmer. Your chances are much better of |
| finding a cheap, used car that also fits the above | | | | finding a cheap used car here. You need to look for no |
| criteria, but it can be done, you just have to where to | | | | reserve auctions. In a no reserve auction, the seller |
| look, and how to shop. | | | | doesn't have a minimum amount they'll accept for their |
| The first thing you need to do is establish your budget. | | | | car. It's truly a high bid gets the vehicle situation. That's |
| There's no point in starting your search until you know | | | | typically where you'll find your best deal on Internet |
| how much money you have to spend. Don't forget to | | | | auction sites. The problem with them, however, is that |
| account for things such as taxes and license fees. | | | | they have millions of other people all looking for great |
| You should also get the oil changed immediately after | | | | used car deals there too. In cases where there is so |
| you buy a used car, unless you are sure the previous | | | | much competition looking at and bidding for the car, it's |
| owner just had it done. That's just a bit of cheap | | | | tough to get a great deal because it drives the price |
| insurance for your new ride. | | | | up. You may still get an attractive buy, but it probably |
| Once you've taken the first step, you can start your | | | | won't be a truly spectacular deal. |
| car search. There are some things to avoid, however. | | | | What about some more creative ways to find a great, |
| You should be aware that not every cheap car you | | | | cheap used car? That's what you'll have to do, unless |
| find is a good deal. Some have atrocious reliability | | | | your Uncle Harold wants to sell you that '57 'Vette he's |
| records, or even worse, are previously wrecked | | | | got stashed behind the barn. One way is to look for |
| vehicles, cheaply repaired and sold as good cars. You'll | | | | homes in pre-foreclosure. The owners of these homes |
| want to check the reliability record for the particular | | | | need money, and they need it fast, in order to save |
| model of vehicle you're considering. If it has a history of | | | | their home. They may have already had their car |
| trouble, steer clear, you don't want to save big money | | | | repossessed, but if they own their car out right, or |
| on a car, only to have your savings eaten up in | | | | have mostly maintained their car payments, you can |
| maintenance costs. | | | | find some really great buys this way. You just must |
| To find out whether the vehicle has a checkered past, | | | | contact them and make an offer. As the tide of |
| you should get a vehicle history report. That will show | | | | foreclosure properties rises, there are sure to be more |
| you whether it's ever been declared a total loss, either | | | | of these opportunities out there. |
| through natural disaster or an accident. You can never | | | | Another way is to go to some of the lesser known |
| be 100% sure, but a history report will go a long way | | | | auctions. Here you'll find vehicles from various sources |
| to give you confidence you are buying the right car. | | | | that you can get for low prices; sometimes extremely |
| So, now that you have an idea of some of the | | | | low prices. Remember no reserve auctions? Well, |
| homework you'll need to do before you actually buy a | | | | these are all no reserve auctions. You may have |
| cheap (or any) car, where can you find one? After all, | | | | heard stories of people finding a Mercedes for $500 |
| a trip to your local car dealer row will likely not get you | | | | at these auctions. Well, that may happen, but it's the |
| the kind of bargain you're looking for. Ditto the local | | | | very rare exception. Don't expect to part with $500 |
| newspaper's classified ads section. If you've checked | | | | and be driving home in a 3 year old SL-500. |
| your local paper lately, you can see the damage the | | | | What you can find is a fantastic deal on more |
| Internet has done to their classified ad section. It's | | | | mundane vehicles such as family sedans and SUVs. |
| shrunk to the point where many big city newspapers | | | | Many of these vehicles come from government or |
| have only 2 or 3 pages of used car classifieds. Only a | | | | utility company fleets. They're rigorously maintained and |
| few years ago it wasn't uncommon to have whole | | | | usually driven by mature individuals not likely to hot rod |
| page of just one major car brand. | | | | them about. Many of these vehicles have less than |
| So, if you can't find a good deal on a used car in your | | | | 80,000 miles, and it's common to find them with under |
| paper, where can you look? Some areas have free | | | | 50,000. The best part is you can get them for really |
| classified ad circulars. It's possible to find really great | | | | low prices if you're not picky about colors and option |
| deals in those, but they are few and far between. If | | | | packages. These special auctions are held at hundreds |
| you have some spare time on your hands, it doesn't | | | | of locations throughout the country every year. The |
| hurt to look, but you'll need a bit of good luck to be | | | | chances of you finding the car you need, within your |
| successful that way. You can check the major | | | | budget, are quite good. |
| Internet sites, but again, although you can find great | | | | |